Flydubai Co-Pilot Accused of Planning 9/11-Style Attack
UAE prosecutors say a Flydubai co-pilot planned to crash his plane into Ben Gurion Airport in a suicide attack. Attorney General Hamad Saif al-Shamsi said the plan drew on the 9/11 attacks.
- 174 people were aboard Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
- 17,000 feet: the jet's drop in about two minutes during the cockpit fight.
- 2 earlier Tel Aviv flights let the suspect study the route, prosecutors say.
- 2 off-duty pilots landed the plane safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Why it matters: Prosecutors say the 29-year-old met every professional and security requirement before Flydubai hired him in January. Al-Shamsi said no screening step revealed his views or intentions.
- Prosecutors say his turn toward extremism began in 2017 while studying in Australia.
- Al-Shamsi says the suspect linked his aviation career to the attack idea.
How 7 sources split on this story
Center coverage, 2 sources: The center focuses on the suspect's personal motive, highlighting the claim that 9/11 inspired his decision to become a pilot.
Left coverage, 4 sources: The left frames it as an official UAE account of a lone-actor plot, focused on the prosecutors' findings and the flight's timeline.
What’s next: UAE officials have not formally named the suspect. Reuters and the Associated Press identified him as Hamam al-Hammami, an Omani national.
- Police are investigating the co-pilot's ties to Australia.
- What charges will the suspect face, and in which court?
- Will airlines change pilot screening after prosecutors say checks found nothing?
